Biography:

Born in april 30, 1949 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
He studies photography at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, 1978 to 1982.
He has 25 one man shows and more than 50 group shows, in Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, Cuba, UK, France, Canada, Lebanon and Spain.
His work is exhibited at important collections at Musée De L´Elisée, Switzerland; Bibliotéque National, Paris; Musée Nicephore Niepce, Chalon-Sur-Saone, France; Portland Museum of Art, USA.; Hungarian Museum of Photography, Collection M+M Auer, Switzerland; among others.
-1984 CMF-INBA Grant for Photographic Essay Production.
-1985 Nikon work Grant and First Place Photojournalism Award, The Maine Photographic Workshops, Rockport, Maine, USA.
-1989 FONCA Grant for the Creators and Artists.
-2000 Grant Proyectos y/o Inversiones.
In 2001 he was named a Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation in New York, USA.
In 1992, he received the International Prize of Photojournalism "King of Spain" in Madrid.
In 1993, 1997 and 2006, he has obtained the scholarship as a Member of the National System of Art Creators of FONCA, Mexico.
In 1996 he got the Leica-Mother Jones scholarship from the Mother Jones Foundation in San Francisco, USA. In 1988 he obtained the WHO-OMS Ambassador Prize on the International Photography Competition.
His work has been published in major magazines in Mexico and abroad.

Statement:

The cowboy phenomenon
These images were taken in the Northern Mexican States of Durango and Zacatecas between 2001 and 2005. They are focused towards the phenomenon brought by the migration of workers to the USA. The "gone children” or "paisanos” (fellow countrymen) go back to their hometowns in Mexico to briefly meet family and friends before going back to the USA. In their hometowns, all kinds of social and sports events take place, but especially weddings, sweet 16 parties and birthdays are celebrated. They also have the very traditional Mexican-style Rodeos for riders to show off their skills. These "gone children", who come back with hard earned savings in dollars, want to present themselves as "winners", so they drive their best trucks and dress up with their finest clothing for the occasion. These pictures intend to show that brawny, strong side of Mexico that is such an important part of our culture, but that unfortunately is increasingly influenced by globalization and our proximity to the USA. I hope these images pay a deserved homage to these brave Mexicans.